Eight candidates, One position. Who will be Ugandas next President?

In just under 72 hours, Ugandans will go to the ballot to choose their next President for a five-year term.

The race, which has attracted eight candidates, had been described by political pundits as one of the fiercest the country has ever witnessed since the adoption of a multi-party democracy in 2005.

The incumbent, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has offered to defend his seat and seek a fifth term, which would stretch his 30-year reign with a further 5 years.

Former Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi is also a candidate in the race as well as Museveni’s fiercest rival and his former doctor Kizza Besigye.

Though the race also has former Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Venansius Baryamureeba, Pastor Joseph Mabirizi, Bwanika Abed, Maureen Kyalya and Benon Biraaro, recently released polls point at a three-horse race between Museveni of the National Resistant Movement (NRM), Besigye of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Mbabazi who is running as an independent candidate.

Opinion polls conducted between January 15 and 19 this year show Museveni ahead of the pack at 51 per cent with Besigye coming second with 32 per cent. Mbabazi was third with 12 per cent.

The survey was held in 89 districts across Uganda with 2,685 voters taking part.

Supporters of Besigye and Mbabazi have however downplayed the significance of the polls saying they are a publicity stunt funded by the government to sway the votes in Museveni’s favour.

Whether or not the polls are a true reflection of the mood on the ground will be known after Thursday this week, with candidates traversing the country in a hunt for votes.

The Opposition, led by Besigye, has also voiced concerns over an apparent plan by the government to rig the elections, saying they will only accept the results of a free and fair elections.

Speaking on Saturday night’s Presidential debate, Besigye said he has no faith in the country’s Electoral Commission (EC) noting that the importation of anti-riot gear and police vehicles is all part of a larger scheme to instill fear in the electorate and push for a Museveni win.

Responding to questions in the debate, Museveni said he is the better choice for Uganda saying most of his competitors are accustomed to building on already-laid foundations.

“Listening to the talk here, I am convinced that there is only one person who is qualified to manage Uganda (me),” he said.

“Most of my competitors have worked under me for many years but it seems like they have not learnt how to build anything from scratch.”

Mbabazi, on his part stated that he is inspired by John Magufuli who was once a minister before he rose to be the President of the Republic of Tanzania.

“Tanzania began to change on the day Magufuli was sworn in as president. I appeal to the people of Uganda that it is time to change, they should use their votes to choose whether they want the country to remain the same or to change.”

Over 15.3 million registered voters are expected to take part in the elections.

@benjaminwafula